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| United States Patent |
5,535,070
|
|
Choi
|
July 9, 1996
|
Magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus including windbreak members for
preventing air flow between head drum and tape
Abstract
A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus comprises windbreak members
between a rotary head drum and a guide mechanism so as to prevent airflow
between the head drum and the tape. Such a magnetic recording/reproducing
apparatus significantly reduces the rising of the magnetic tape from the
outer circumferential surface of the rotary head drum, to enable the
tape's close contact with the head drum. Also, tape oscillation and
subsequent signal jitter is reduced to enhance high-density and highly
accurate magnetic recording and reproduction.
| Inventors:
|
Choi; Jin-seung (Suwon, KR)
|
| Assignee:
|
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Kyungki-do, KR)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
428847 |
| Filed:
|
April 25, 1995 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| Current U.S. Class: |
360/84; 360/130.24 |
| Intern'l Class: |
G11B 015/61 |
| Field of Search: |
360/130.24,130.23,130.22,8,84
242/358
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4964002 | Oct., 1990 | Nakamichi | 360/130.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 52-23908 | Feb., 1977 | JP | 360/130.
|
| 62-291744 | Dec., 1987 | JP | 360/130.
|
| 01-106354 | Apr., 1989 | JP | 360/130.
|
| 01-119948 | May., 1989 | JP | 360/130.
|
| 01-154346 | Jun., 1989 | JP | 360/130.
|
| 04-44614 | Feb., 1992 | JP | 360/130.
|
| 04-252412 | Sep., 1992 | JP | 360/130.
|
Primary Examiner: Levy; Stuart S.
Assistant Examiner: Watkins; Kevin M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sughrue, Mion, Zinn, Macpeak & Seas
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/102,068 filed Aug. 4,
1993, now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus having a guide mechanism
which includes first and second guide rollers respectively positioned on
opposite sides of a rotary head drum when said guide mechanism is in a
tape loading position for guiding the run of a magnetic tape and loading
said magnetic tape onto said rotary head drum comprising a rotary drum and
a fixed drum, and first and second windbreak members for preventing the
flow of air, due to the running of said magnetic tape and rotation of said
rotary drum, from passing between said rotary head drum and said magnetic
tape, wherein said first and second windbreak members are installed on the
fixed drum of said rotary head drum and each of said windbreak members is
formed in an open, hollow V shape which extends upwardly from said fixed
drum such that one arm of the V shape has a curvature equal to that of
said rotary head drum and is positioned proximate to said rotary drum but
in a non-contacting relationship thereto, while the other arm of the V
shape protrudes outwardly away from said rotary drum toward a
corresponding one of said first and second guide rollers, when said guide
mechanism is in the tape loading position, and is parallel to the travel
path of said magnetic tape, wherein airflow between said rotary head drum
and said magnetic tape is intercepted and prevented by said first and
second windbreak members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording/reproducing
apparatus, and in more detail, to a magnetic recording/reproducing
apparatus whose structure is improved so as to prevent the generated
airflow due to the running of a magnetic tape and rotation of a rotary
head drum from passing between the rotary head drum and the magnetic tape,
which magnetic tape travels in close contact with the rotary head drum.
Generally, in the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus of a rotary head
system, a rotary head drum 1 comprises a rotary drum 2 on which magnetic
heads 4 and 4' are installed and a fixed drum 3 which is fixedly installed
in the same axis with the rotary drum, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Also,
flanking the rotary head drum, guiding rollers 5 and 5' which draw out a
magnetic tape 6 from a tape cassette (not shown) are movably installed.
When the tape cassette is loaded in the magnetic recording/reproducing
apparatus, magnetic tape 6 is drawn out from the tape cassette by guiding
rollers 5 and 5', so as to be loaded toward rotary head drum 1. As
described above, magnetic tape 6 is caused to travel by the pressure of a
pinch-roller and a capstan motor axis (not shown) while in close contact
with rotary head drum 1. Simultaneously, rotary head drum 1 is rotated at
a constant speed with respect to the running speed of magnetic tape 6. At
this time, magnetic heads 4 and 4' helically scan magnetic tape 6 so as to
record or reproduce information.
Meanwhile, in such a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus of the rotary
head system, since magnetic tape 6 has a large relative velocity to rotary
drum 2 to accomplish recording and reproduction of high-density and
high-accuracy, air turbulence is generated in the proximity of magnetic
tape 6 and rotary drum 2 by the relative movement therebetween.
Accordingly, as indicated by the dotted arrows of FIG. 2, air flows
between magnetic tape 6 and rotary head drum 1. It should be noted that
proper airflow facilitates tape travel and extends the life of the
magnetic tape and magnetic heads. Meanwhile, if an overabundance of the
above-described airflow is present by the high-speed running of magnetic
tape 6 and high-speed rotation of rotary drum 2, the tape is lifted from
the outer circumferential surface of rotary head drum 1 such that an
oscillation in the tape is created, which increases tape jitter and in
turn lowers the picture quality as output to a display screen.
More particularly, as the relative speed of magnetic tape 6 with respect to
rotary drum 2 increases, the degree of lifting of the tape from the outer
circumferential surface of rotary head drum 1 also increases. Accordingly,
the reproduced signal quality is diminished further.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above-described problems, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus whose
structure is improved so as to prevent the generation of an excessive flow
of air, even though a magnetic tape runs at a high speed and a rotary drum
rotates at a high speed, thereby reducing the loss of an output signal.
To accomplish the object, the present invention provides a magnetic
recording/reproducing apparatus having a guide mechanism for guiding the
run of a magnetic tape and loading the magnetic tape onto the rotary head
drum, which comprises windbreak members for preventing the flow of air
between the head drum and magnetic tape, which are respectively provided
between the head drum and the guide mechanism.
According to a characteristic of the present invention, the windbreak
members can prevent airflow, generated in accordance with the direction of
the high-speed running of the magnetic tape and the high-speed rotation of
the rotary head drum, from flowing between the rotatory head drum and
magnetic tape.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the
following and more particular description of the preferred embodiment of
the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional magnetic recording/reproducing
apparatus;
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
according to the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a front view of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. Here, a rotary head drum
11 comprising a rotary drum 12 on which magnetic heads 14 and 14' are
installed, and a fixed drum 13 rotating on the same axis with the rotary
drum is installed on a deck 30. Also, guiding rollers 15 and 15' are
installed as a guide mechanism which draws out a magnetic tape 16 from a
tape cassette (not shown) and loads the drawn tape so as to be in close
contact with the outer circumferential surface of rotary head drum 11.
Shown in FIG. 3 as a characteristic feature of the present invention,
windbreak members 20 and 20' are fixedly installed on deck 30 (FIG. 4) at
both branching points between magnetic tape 16 and rotary head drum 11.
Each of windbreak members 20 and 20' is formed in a substantial V shape as
shown in FIG. 3. One side surface of each windbreak member is formed to a
circumferential surface having the same curvature as that of rotatory head
drum 11. The other side surfaces are formed so as to be coincident with a
plane parallel to the travel path of magnetic tape 16. The windbreak
members 20 and 20' are fixed on the deck 30 as shown in FIG. 3. Meanwhile,
windbreak members 20 and 20' can be installed on fixed drum 13 of rotary
head drum 11 as shown in FIG. 4.
The magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present
invention having such a structure operates as follows. Magnetic tape 16 is
drawn out from the tape cassette (not shown) by guiding rollers 15 and 15'
so as to be loaded onto rotary head drum 11. Magnetic tape 16 is caused to
travel by the pressure between an axis of a capstan motor and a pinch
roller (not shown). Also, rotary drum 12 is properly rotated at a relative
speed with respect to the running speed of magnetic tape 16, while the
magnetic tape is in close contact with rotary head drum 11 as described
above.
Here, magnetic heads 14 and 14' helically scan information recorded on
magnetic tape 16 so as to reproduce or record information thereon. When
information is recorded and/or reproduced on a magnetic tape as described
above such that a flow of air is generated by the high-speed running of
magnetic tape 16 and the high-speed rotation of rotary drum 12, in
accordance with the direction of the tape travel and drum rotation, the
air flows between rotary head drum 11 and magnetic tape 16 which desirably
travels in close contact with the rotary head drum. However, this airflow
is intercepted by windbreak members 20 and 20' and thus prevented.
Accordingly, the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus of the present
invention significantly reduces the lifting of magnetic tape 16 from the
outer circumferential surface of rotary head drum 11, thereby improving
the adherence of the tape to the drum. Also, the oscillation of the tape
and subsequent signal jitter is greatly reduced.
As described above, the present invention is an effective invention
providing a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus which enhances
high-density and highly accurate magnetic recording and reproduction.
Having described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will
be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications and alternatives
to the disclosed apparatus exist within the scope and spirit of the
present invention. Accordingly, it is intended to limit the scope of the
present invention only as indicated in the following claims.
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